Ski safety binding for the toe of a ski boot

ABSTRACT

A member of the binding is mountable on a ski for pivoting relative to the latter about an axis which extends normal to the plane of the ski, between a normal operating position, a displaced release position and an intermediate damping position. An abutment is fixedly mountable on the ski at a location spaced from the aforementioned axis, and a pair of double-armed levers are pivoted to the member at opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally of the ski and passing both through the axis and the abutment. Each of the levers has the first arm adjacent to a toe of the boot and a second arm spaced from the same and normally slidably engaging the abutment. A contact face is provided on each of the first arms, and these contact faces are located in planes substantially normal to the plane of the ski and normally engage the boot toe at opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the boot. A biasing arrangement permanently urges the member to its normal operating position but permits pivoting of the member about the aforementioned axis to the intermediate damping position in response to slight lateral shifting of the boot toe, and to the release position in response to greater lateral shifting of the boot toe with concomittant disengagement from the boot toe of the first arm of that lever towards which the boot toe is shifting.

United States Patent n91 Suhner [451 Mar. 25, 1975 SKI SAFETY BINDING FOR THE TOE OF A SKI BOOT [76] Inventor: Willy Suhner, Aarauerstrasse 38,

5200 Brugg, Switzerland [22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 417,521

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker 57 ABSTRACT A member of the binding is mountable on a ski for pivoting relative to the latter about an axis which extends normal to the plane of the ski, between a normal operating position, a displaced release position and an intermediate damping position. An abutment is fixedly mountable on the ski at a location spaced from the aforementioned axis, and a pair of double-armed levers are pivoted to the member at opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally of the ski and passing both through the axis and the abutment. Each of the levers has the first arm adjacent to a toe of the boot and a second arm spaced from the same and normally slidably engaging the abutment. A contact face is provided on each of the first arms, and these contact faces are located in planes substantially normal to the plane of the ski and normally engage the boot toe at opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the boot. A biasing arrangement'permanently urges the member to its normal operating position but permits pivoting of the member about the aforementioned axis to the intermediate damping position in response to slight lateral shifting of the boot toe, and to the release position in response to greater lateral shifting of the boot toe with concomittant disengagement from the boot toe of the first arm of that lever towards which the boot toe is shifting.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEnuAnzsms SHEET 1 0F 5 FIG. I

FIG. 2

PATENTED M 3. 873.1 13

FIG.3

FIG. 4

PATENTEUMRZSISYS 3 873 1 1 3 sum 5 OF 5 SKI SAFETY BINDING FOR THE TOE OF A SKI BOOT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a ski safety binding, and more particularly to a safety binding for the toe of a ski boot.

Ski safety bindings for the toes of ski boots are well known already. Their purpose is to initially permit lateral displacement of the toe of the boot to a damping position, that is to resiliently resist such lateral displacement to a certain extent. If, however, the force causing the displacement exceeds the pre-selected damping effect, then the safety binding is to disengage the toe of the boot as quickly and as completely as possible. This basic operation of the toe bindings is based on the face that when the boot performs a movement in which the toe shifts laterally on the ski, the boot will turn about a vertical axis located in the region of the heel of the boot.

Prior-art constructions of such toe bindings use an arrangement in which a four-bar couple is employed, constructed as a sole'holder, the bases of which couple becomes turnable about an axis normal to the plan of the ski for releasing the boot after the latter has turned through and passed a distance in which its movement is only to be dampened. It is also known to provide the members of this couple as double-armed levers in such a manner that the lever arms which are not connected with the couple but pivoting thereto will initially prevent the free turning-away of the base by engaging and sliding along abutments which are fixedly mounted to the ski during that part of their displacement which corresponds to the damping effect.

Unfortunately, these prior-art constructions provide a sufficiently accurate operation only for a relatively short damping distance if the toe binding is to be of reasonably compact construction, which is of course one of the aims of all bindings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ski safety binding for the toe of a ski boot which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. I

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved toe binding which can have the same dimensions as those known from the prior art but which affords a substantially longer damping path and is simpler and less expensive to produce.

In keeping with the above objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, in a ski safety binding for the toe ofa ski boot, in a combination which comprises a member mountable on a ski for pivoting relative to the latter about an axis which extends normal to the plane of the ski, between a normal operating position, a displaced release position andan intermediate damping position. Abutment means is fixedly mountable on the ski at a location spaced from the axis, and a pair of doublearmed levers are pivoted to the member at opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally of the ski and passing through the axis and said abutment means. Each of the levers has a first arm adjacent to a toe of the boot and a second arm spaced therefrom and normally slidably engaging the abutment means. A contact face is provided on each of the first arms, and these contact faces are located in planes substantially normal to the plane of the ski and normally engaging the boot toe at opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the boot. Biasing means permanently urges the member to its normal operating position, but permits pivoting of the member about the aforementioned axis to the intermediate damping position in response to slight lateral shifting of the boot toe, and to the release position in response to greater lateral shifting of the boot toe with concommitant disengagement from the boot toe of the first arm of that lever towards which the boot too is shifting.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned bottom-plan view showing a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2-4 are view similar to FIG. I, but illustrating different operating positions of the embodiment of FIG. 1, in accordance with the section line A-A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 in partly sectioned side view;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a further embodiment of the invention in vertical section;

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, as seen on the section line GG of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a further sectional view, showing a detail as seen on the section line E-E of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing an additional embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary partly sectioned plan view, illustrating an additional embodiment of the invention which is based upon the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a partly sectioned plan view showing a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring firstly to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, wherein FIGS. 2-4 show different operating positions of the device in bottom-plan views, it will be seen that in FIG. 1 I have illustrated the normal or center position, in FIG. 2 a general position which the device assumes as it passes through the damping path, that is from the position of FIG. I to the damping position which is illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a view showing the device after the boot toe has been released.

Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1-5 identifies a pin or bolt which is to be fixed to the ski (the latter is shown only in FIG. 5). A member 2 is turnably mounted on the bolt 1 and is pressed by a spring 3 shown in FIG. 5, to the normal or center position shown in FIG. 1. The spring 3 presses the piston 4 against a flattened surface 5 of the bolt 1 and bears against a regulating screw 6. When the member 2 is pivoted about the bolt 1 in lateral direction to a certain degree, that is when it performs damping movements, it is urged back to its center position of FIG. 1 by the spring 3.

Bolts 7, 7' serve to mount double-armed levers 8, 8 pivotably on the member 2. The levers have arms 9, 9 and 13, 13', respectively. The arms 9, 9' are those which are adjacent the toe of a ski boot which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and the following FIGS.

These arms 9, 9' are provided with surfaces 10, 10' which extend approximately normal to the plane ski and which engage the sole of the boot 11 and overlap the sole with hold-down portions 12, 12.

The arms 13, 13 which are remote from the ski boot l1 ordinarily engage with their points 14, 14' an abutment such as a pin 15 which is to be fixedly mounted on the ski. If, now, the boot 11 is for instance shifted at its toe in the direction towards the lever 8, then the point of contact of the arm 13 with the pin 15 shifts from the point 14 to the point 16 as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, the point of contact of the arm 13 with the pin 15 shifts from the location 14 to the location 17', as also shown in FIG. 3. During such movement, a point 18 at the toe of the boot 11 travels along a corresponding portion of a line 19.

As soon as the position shown in FIG. 3 has been reached, the arm 13 slides past the pin 15, and the lever 8 is now freely turnable about the bolt 7. It continues to turn in clockwise direction until the arm 13 abuts the arm 13' of the lever 8'. At the same time, the member 2 turns back to its normal position shown in FIG. 1 under the influence of the spring 3, and is turned past this position by the boot 11 which is becoming released, as shown in FIG. 4. After the boot 11 travels past the position of FIG. 3, it is no longer guided and can now move in any of the directions indicated by the arrows 20 of FIG. 4.

The contours 16, 17 and l6, 17' can be so selected that the surfaces 10, 10 will precisely engage the boot 11 during the damping movements of the latter, and will guide the boot without play. FIGS. l-5 show also that the sole of the boot 11 will advantageously perform a rolling movement over the surfaces 10, 10, rather than a sliding movement, during the lateral shifting of the toe of the boot. FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a plate-shaped member 21 has'levers 22 and 22 pivoted to it. The member 21 is turnably mounted in a housing 24 which is to be fixedly connected with the ski. The mounting of the member 21 takes place via the bolt 23 which is connected with the member 21 and is formed with a recess 27. The member 21 is normally urged to its normal operating position shown in FIG. 6, by a spring 25, an apertured disk 26-and a ball 28 which is normally urged into the recess 27. The spring bears with its opposite end against the regulating screw 29.

The pin 30 constitutes and abutment which is fixedly connected with the housing 24. The return of the lever 8 of FIGS. 1-5, or 22 of FIG. 6, is effected manually once the binding has operated to release the boot.

FIG. 7 shows how this return of the respectively displaced lever (8 or 8, or 22, 22') can be facilitated. For this purpose, a conical hole 31 is formed in the lower part of-the lever 8 or 8', a slot 32 in the upper part, and the member 2 is convexly shaped in the region where the bolts 7, 7' extend out of it. This permits the lever (here the lever 8) which is to be returned to its normal operating position to be pivoted in the direction of the arrow 34, so that its arm 13 is lifted against the action of a leaf spring 34 and can be turned past and over the abutment 15 which is provided on a plate 35 that is mounted fixedly on the ski, without having to move the member 2 out of its normal position for this purpose.

As FIG. 8 shows, the abutment 15 can be replaced by a roller 37 which is turnably journalled on a bolt or pin 36 that is in turn riveted or otherwise secured to the plate 35 that is fixedly connected to the ski. The arms 13, 13 abut the roller 37.

FIG. 9 is an illustration analogous to FIG. 8, but showing an embodiment wherein the arms 13" and 13" are located in different planes paralleling the plane of the ski and where each of them abuts a separate roller 37 and 37", respectively, both of which are mounted on the pin 36. This further reduces the friction between the rollers and the arms.

FIG. 10 shows that it is also possible to provide the arms 13, 13' with rollers 38, 38, and to so configurate the abutment 39, which is fixedly connected with the ski, that the engagement of the arms 9, 9' with the sole of the boot 11 is assured during damping movements,

that is during any position which the device assumes intermediate the normal position of FIG. 1 and the final damping position of FIG. 3. Each of the arms 13, 13 could be provided with a separate abutment 39 in this embodiment also. The single or several abutments 39 could also be made adjustable in longitudinal direction of the ski and/or transversely thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 the arms 13, 13 of the levers 8, 8' engage the abutment 15 only under the urging of the boot 11. However, springy biasing means of any type desired could also be used for this purpose. FIGS. 11 and 12 shown in a plan view and a side view an embodiment in which the arms 40, 40' are each biassed by a spring 41, 41. One portion 42, 42 of these springs engages in the normal position of the device against a flattened facet 43, 43 provided on the member 44, independently of the position of the member 44, and the arms 40, 40 are thus always maintained in a predetermined orientation with reference to the member 44, which corresponds to the normal position of the arrangement. It is clear that the spring 41 is made only strong enough so that it will not opposte any significant resistance to the displacement of the lever 40 by the boot, after the device has moved through the damping path and is about to move beyond it to release position. I

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a ski safety binding for the toe of a ski boot, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can be applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a ski safety binding for the toe of a ski boot, a combination comprising a member mountable on a ski for pivoting relative to the latter about an axis which extends normal to the plane of the ski, between a normal operating position, a displaced release position and an intermediate damping position; abutment means fixedly mountable on the ski at a location spaced from said axis; a pair of double-armed levers pivoted to said member for pivotal movement about parallel pivot axes extending normal to the plane of the ski and located at opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally of the ski and passing through said axis and said abutment means, each of said levers having a first arm adjacent to a toe of the boot and a second arm spaced therefrom and normally slidably engaging said abutment means; a contact face provided on each of said first arms, said contact faces being located in planes substantially normal to the plane of the ski and normally engaging said boot toe at opposite sides of a longitudinal center-line or the boot; and biasing means permanently urging said member to said normal operating position, but permitting pivoting of said member about said axis to said intermediate damping position in response to slight lateral shifting of the boot toe, and to said release position in response to greater lateral shifting of the boot toe with concomitant disengagement from the boot toe of the first arm of that lever towards which the boot toe is shifting.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, said member being provided with a bore, and said biasing means comprising a biasing spring which is accommodated in said bore.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1; further comprising a housing mountable on the ski so as to be immovable relative to the same, said housing having a bore; and wherein said biasing means comprises a biasing spring which is accommodated in said bore,

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said levers are pivotable about their respective pivot axes to positions in which the respective first arms disengages from the boot toe when said second arms are disengage from said abutment means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a pin fixed to the ski, and a roller mounted on said pin for rotation relative to the same.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the respective second arms are located in two different planes each of which parallels the plane of the ski; and wherein said abutment means comprises a pin fixed to the ski, a first roller turnably mounted on said pin and engaged by one of said second arms, and a second roller also turnably mounted on said pin axially adjacent to said first roller and engaged by the other one of said second arms.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a pair of rollers, each mounted on one of said second arms.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means urging said second arms into en gagement with said abutment means when said member is in said normal operating position thereof.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising biasing elements urging said levers to assume a predetermined orientation with reference to said member. 

1. In a ski safety binding for the toe of a ski boot, a combination comprising a member mountable on a ski for pivoting relative to the latter about an axis which extends normal to the plane of the ski, between a normal operating position, a displaced release position and an intermediate damping position; abutment means fixedly mountable on the ski at a location spaced from said axis; a pair of double-armed levers pivoted to said member For pivotal movement about parallel pivot axes extending normal to the plane of the ski and located at opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally of the ski and passing through said axis and said abutment means, each of said levers having a first arm adjacent to a toe of the boot and a second arm spaced therefrom and normally slidably engaging said abutment means; a contact face provided on each of said first arms, said contact faces being located in planes substantially normal to the plane of the ski and normally engaging said boot toe at opposite sides of a longitudinal center-line or the boot; and biasing means permanently urging said member to said normal operating position, but permitting pivoting of said member about said axis to said intermediate damping position in response to slight lateral shifting of the boot toe, and to said release position in response to greater lateral shifting of the boot toe with concomitant disengagement from the boot toe of the first arm of that lever towards which the boot toe is shifting.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, said member being provided with a bore, and said biasing means comprising a biasing spring which is accommodated in said bore.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1; further comprising a housing mountable on the ski so as to be immovable relative to the same, said housing having a bore; and wherein said biasing means comprises a biasing spring which is accommodated in said bore.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said levers are pivotable about their respective pivot axes to positions in which the respective first arms disengages from the boot toe when said second arms are disengage from said abutment means.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a pin fixed to the ski, and a roller mounted on said pin for rotation relative to the same.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the respective second arms are located in two different planes each of which parallels the plane of the ski; and wherein said abutment means comprises a pin fixed to the ski, a first roller turnably mounted on said pin and engaged by one of said second arms, and a second roller also turnably mounted on said pin axially adjacent to said first roller and engaged by the other one of said second arms.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising a pair of rollers, each mounted on one of said second arms.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means urging said second arms into engagement with said abutment means when said member is in said normal operating position thereof.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising biasing elements urging said levers to assume a predetermined orientation with reference to said member. 